Armenia strengthening its position in Karabakh talks, lawmaker says

Armenia is strengthening its position in the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations, which became more evident after Armenia signed the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the EU, an Armenian parliamentarian said on Tuesday, commenting on the recent Nalbandian-Mammadyarov meeting.

“As you all know the new Armenia-EU deal also has a section referring to the Artsakh conflict settlement, clearly stating the conflict must have a peaceful settlement through the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group and upon the basis of three principles of the international law – non-use of force or threat of force, territorial integrity and the peoples' right to self-determination,” Shirak Torosyan, a member of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia told a news conference in Yerevan.

According to the lawmaker, this is what has served as the ideological core of the Armenian diplomacy on the Karabakh settlement process, what is accepted by the international community but constantly undermined by Azerbaijan.

Shirak Torosyan at the same time highlighted not much should be expected from yesterday’s meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers.

“I am sceptical of this, since Azerbaijan still needs to stomach the new situation, feeling the effects of the Armenia-EU agreement on itself. I believe it will take some time before Azerbaijan gradually moves to a more constructive field amid the pressures of the international community and tough stance of the Armenian side,” the parliamentarian said, adding currently it is impossible to eye any breakthrough in the conflict settlement process.